Floridians, set your alarms, because the annual Perseid meteor shower will peak on the evening of Aug. 12, 2026, until the early morning hours of Aug. 13, 2026.
This year, the astronomical event’s peak coincides with the lunar cycle’s new moon phase, meaning that there will be virtually no moonlight in the night sky during the shower's passage.
Views Across Cities
Major cities in Central Florida have the best chance in the entire state to view the meteors’ passing, as skies are expected to remain clear well into the morning.
These cities include Tampa, Lakeland, Saint Petersburg, Yeehaw Junction, Spring Hill, Fort Pierce, and Fort Meade.
Skies throughout Southwest Florida, including Sarasota, Port Charlotte, and Arcadia, could be clear before midnight. Forecasts, however, do predict cloudy skies will increase overnight.
In the Panhandle, North and South Florida, unfortunately, scattered rainstorms and thunderstorms will continue to increase, limiting visibility for residents.
Onlookers can start looking for meteors once the skies darken, but if you live in heavily populated zones, you may have a hard time finding some, as light pollution will hide many of the “shooting stars.”
What is The Perseid Meteor Shower?
“The Perseid meteor shower occurs every summer when Earth passes through a stream of debris left behind by Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle," according to CBS12.
This debris enters our planet’s atmosphere at high speeds and lights up, turning into a fireball spectacle.
According to the American Meteor Society, the Perseids are active from July 17 through August 24, with the shower reaching its peak in Mid-August.
Aug. 12, 2026, is a rare day in astronomical history, as the Perseids meteor shower’s peak additionally coincides with a six-planet alignment and a solar eclipse.
The Perseids’ peak begins in the pre-dawn hours (2 or 3 a.m. EST), but activity begins to pick up after 11:00 p.m. local time.
